‘Steve the Shopper’ nabbed

Crime & Courts / 28 May 2014, 11:22am

ANGELIQUE SERRAO

270514. "Steve the Shopper" weeps after being caught at Midstream Estate in Centurion. Steve, a man targeting showhouses all over Joburg and Pretoria in order to steal easy-to-carry valuables has been nicknamed "Steve the Shopper by an online crime-fighting forum. The man allegedly calls estate agents and sets up appointments to view houses that are advertised for sale. He calls himself Steve, Birtus or Werner. While in the homes, he lifts cash and jewellery when the estate agent is not looking.
Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

Johannesburg - “Steve the Shopper” has been busy again - managing to get himself arrested twice in five days.

On Monday, The Star revealed that a man had been targeting showhouses around Joburg and Pretoria, stealing easy-to-carry valuables.

He had been nicknamed Steve the Shopper by crime-fighting organisation eBlockwatch, which had identified him on a Facebook group called “Estate Agents on eBlockwatch”.

The man sets up appointments with estate agents, calling himself Steve or Bertus. While in the homes, he allegedly lifts cash and jewellery when the estate agent isn’t looking.